Dr. Yunis Afrukhtih spent 9 years in Akka in close contact with
`Abdu'l-Baha, and later wrote his memoirs of his stay there. Although a
prominent Baha'i scholar of the previous generation began preparing a
translation of this book, he appears to have been prevented from following
through on it.

The memoirs were published in Iran and reviewed by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha'is of Iran. They were reprinted by Kalimat Press
recently.

On p. 521 of the Kalimat edition, Afrukhtih defends `Abdu'l-Baha from the
charges made against him by the covenant breakers, that he was claiming
some high station for himself. He then quotes `Abdu'l-Baha thusly:

"Many times He said, `I do not make a claim of infallibility
(ma`sumiyyat). I am the first of sinners (avval-i gunahkar). But the
Blessed Beauty favored me with a gift (mawhibati). Whatever I say, it is
that (har chih beguyam, haman ast).'"

Although this is a reported saying and so does not have official standing
in Baha'i law and theology, I find it a trustworthy report, as a
historian, and am certainly convinced that Afrukhtih would never dare have
reported such a saying were it not true . . .